overgraze

verb

over·​graze ˌō-vər-ˈgrāz 

overgrazed; overgrazing; overgrazes

transitive verb

: to allow animals to graze (an area, such as a pasture) to the point of damaging vegetational cover

Examples of overgraze in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This park is the result of the Tompkins’ passion for this part of the world and their desire to rewild this part of Chile that had been overfarmed and overgrazed to the point of almost eradicating its native flora and fauna. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Coyotes help control small mammal populations, preventing overgrazing and seed damage. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

History has shown that excessive agricultural burning can wreak environmental havoc, as can overgrazing. — Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026

Driven by practices like overgrazing and deforestation alongside climate pressures, this land loss poses a massive ecological and human threat. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overgraze

• aldolase
• alleyways
• amylase
• anaphase
• anhydrase
• anyways
• arginase
• cabarets
• carriageways
• castaways
• catalase
• cellulase

Kids Definition

overgraze

verb

over·​graze ō-vər-ˈgrāz 

overgrazed; overgrazing

: to allow animals to graze (as a pasture) to the point of damaging the vegetation